https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/we-were-building-socialism--7537692
No passports. No private cars. No freedom of religion. Under Enver Hoxha, Albania had declared itself the world's first atheist state.

Food ration cards. Apartments assigned by the state. Much the same furniture in every home.

And yet, wedding dances that lasted until dawn. Italian television watched in secret, with the volume turned down as low as possible.
 
We Were Building Socialism is a personal portrait of everyday life in Albania before 1990, told by someone who grew up there.

A world that no longer exists. But one that was home.


Created, written and narrated by Ingrid Rudi.
Sound and post-production by Filippo Medas.]]>enSociety & CultureCopyright Ingrid Rudihttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/654baeffac0f70110c19c4c800fda9e0.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/we-were-building-socialism--7537692Sat, 07 Nov 2026 20:23:52 +0000Ingrid RudiIngrid Rudiingrid.rudi76@gmail.comEveryone knows the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. Fewer people know what life was like in Communist Albania, the most isolated country in Europe. Cut off from the West, cut off from the East, cut off from itself.  No passports. No private cars. No...
No passports. No private cars. No freedom of religion. Under Enver Hoxha, Albania had declared itself the world's first atheist state.

Food ration cards. Apartments assigned by the state. Much the same furniture in every home.

And yet, wedding dances that lasted until dawn. Italian television watched in secret, with the volume turned down as low as possible.
 
We Were Building Socialism is a personal portrait of everyday life in Albania before 1990, told by someone who grew up there.

A world that no longer exists. But one that was home.


Created, written and narrated by Ingrid Rudi.
Sound and post-production by Filippo Medas.]]>false489c9de0-4d6a-5909-b9e7-2eb5cc031bb7episodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/trailer--76232916
No passports. No private cars. No freedom of religion. 

Food ration cards. Apartments assigned by the state. The same furniture in almost every home.

And yet, wedding dances that lasted until dawn. Italian television watched in secret, with the volume turned down as low as possible.
 
We Were Building Socialism is a personal portrait of everyday life in Albania before 1990, told by someone who grew up there.

A world that no longer exists. But one that was home.


Created, written and narrated by Ingrid Rudi.
Sound and post-production by Filippo Medas.

Cover art: Personal archive photograph and graphic concept by Ingrid Rudi.


Music used in this episode:

Caffeine Creek Band - Celtic Folk Song]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/76232916Sat, 07 Nov 2026 15:14:40 +0000Ingrid RudiBefore 1990, Albania was the most isolated country in Europe. Cut off from the West, cut off from the East, cut off from itself.  No passports. No private cars. No freedom of religion.  Food ration cards. Apartments assigned by the state. The same...
No passports. No private cars. No freedom of religion. 

Food ration cards. Apartments assigned by the state. The same furniture in almost every home.

And yet, wedding dances that lasted until dawn. Italian television watched in secret, with the volume turned down as low as possible.
 
We Were Building Socialism is a personal portrait of everyday life in Albania before 1990, told by someone who grew up there.

A world that no longer exists. But one that was home.


Created, written and narrated by Ingrid Rudi.
Sound and post-production by Filippo Medas.

Cover art: Personal archive photograph and graphic concept by Ingrid Rudi.


Music used in this episode:

Caffeine Creek Band - Celtic Folk Song]]>70albania,albanians,comunism,enverhoxha,europe,history,immigration,memory,podcast,socialism,society,story,tiranafalsetrailer